Over 1 million copies sold

What every church will always need

The need for talented, vigorous leaders in the church cannot be overemphasized. Such times demand active service of men and women who are guided by and devoted to Jesus Christ.

With more than 1 million copies sold, Spiritual Leadership stands as a proven classic for developing such leadership. J. Oswald Sanders, a Christian leader for nearly seventy years and author of more than forty books, presents the key principles of leadership in both the temporal and spiritual realms. He illustrates his points with examples from Scripture and biographies of eminent men of God, such as Moses, Nehemiah, the apostle Paul, David Livingstone, Charles Spurgeon, and others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J. OSWALD SANDERS (1902-1992) was a Christian leader for nearly seventy years and authored more than forty books on the Christian life including The Incomparable Christ, Spiritual Discipleship, Spiritual Leadership, and Spiritual Maturity. He left a promising law practice in his native New Zealand to serve as an instructor and administrator at the Bible College of New Zealand. Dr. Sanders later became general director of the China Inland Mission (now the Overseas Missionary Fellowship), and was instrumental in beginning many new missions projects throughout East Asia.

REVIEWS:

I as a pastor am reading this book to join in with several men in my congregation who are going through it. While I agree with the character qualities listed for a leader, I am struggling with the means to become that type of leader. For me, godly character comes from spending time in the presence of God, not from struggling to attain that character. Self-examination, which is good (see Psalm 139:23-24), should lead us to repentance and worship in the presence of God. It is only in the presence of the greatest good that my heart is transformed to be like Christ, which then gives me the motivation and strength to be the spiritual man I am called to be.

I grew up under a theology that stressed holiness by human effort, and it is only after suicidal guilt that I finally began to understand how God transforms us through His grace. Identity must precede activity. This book seems to lay out the correct biblical qualities of a leader, but stresses the wrong means for how to get these qualities. They are not something that can be attained apart from an intimate love relationship with the one who gives them. Spend time with Jesus. Let Him love you. Let His beauty convince you that His ways are better than the other ways of living.

A better leadership book is Crawford Loritts book, "Leadership as Identity."
-T. Sechler

This is great book filled with inspirational words of wisdom.

Sanders discussions about leadership are advanced beyond basic thinking. He conveys just how much is involved in leading God's people God's way. While deep, Sanders's made is points cleanly and his topics structured in a pleasant sequential and logical order, so that readers can contemplate all aspects of leadership..

Sanders has a high regard for spiritual leadership as God's work and he expresses the seriousness with which it must be undertaken. This makes the book beneficial for all persons within the body of Christ and not just leaders or potential leaders. Thus, I would highly recommend this book to all believers, but a must read for all leaders and aspiring leaders. It is a timeless book that has the propensity to be used by God to transform his church if we would read and apply it's principles.
-Marlon Dixon

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Christian Leadership Books

Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence For Every Believer (Sanders Spiritual Growth Series)